Publishers Weekly
04/11/2022
Seventeen-year-old Bel Maier, who is half-Filipino and half-white, doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life. She has been avoiding college applications, but her knack for engineering and love of building things lands her a spot on her private Los Angeles high school’s robotics team after a teacher encourages her to audition. Bel’s initial disinterest in math and sciences and her unorthodox approach to projects causes friction within the team, however, and she butts heads with intense club leader Mateo “Teo” Luna, who is half-Mexican and half-white, and Indian American Neelam Dasari, the only other girl on the team. When Bel and Teo fall for each other, they must navigate a relationship amid the boys’ club atmosphere of high school robotics, even as a cutthroat competition and uncertainty about their post-high school futures work against them. Follmuth’s humorous debut lightly addresses discrimination faced by women of color in STEM, as well as issues of privilege and resource accessibility, set within an upbeat romantic comedy populated by a sympathetic and inclusive cast. The characters’ struggles are realistic, and the romantic chemistry is palpable, making this a joyful read. Ages 12–up. Agent: Amelia Appel, Triada US. (May)
From the Publisher
"The characters' struggles are realistic, and the romantic chemistry is palpable, making this a joyful read."—Publishers Weekly
"This novel is full of charm. . . . An engaging story, filled with lessons about believing in yourself when you never thought you could and believing others who might see the shine you never thought was possible."—School Library Journal
"This lively teen romance, with alternating narration from Bel and Teo, is packed with humor as well as tender moments, while also reflecting common anxieties. . . ."—The Horn Book
"The message is clear: Women deserve to take up space in the STEM world too. A delightful teen romance about building robots—and new futures."—Kirkus Reviews
"My Mechanical Romance shines a light on the struggles bright young girls face in STEM fields, and combines it with an adorable romance that will leave you warm and smiling long after the last page. It’s rom-com perfection."—Adiba Jaigirdar, author of The Henna Wars
"Hilarious, heartfelt, and positively banterific, My Mechanical Romance is a can’t-miss debut. Bel and Teo are two brilliant teens whose snarky chemistry leaps off the page, even as they slowly reveal the layers of their hearts—Bel’s struggle to be taken seriously as a girl of color in STEM, and Teo’s fear that he’ll never live up to everyone’s sky-high expectations. Bel and Teo don’t just build kick-ass robots; they create a beautiful organic love story that helps them both discover all the best versions of themselves. I swooned, I cheered, and I will definitely read everything else Alexene Farol Follmuth writes!"—Monica Gomez-Hira, author of Once Upon a Quinceañera
School Library Journal
06/01/2022
Gr 7 Up—This novel is full of charm. The story follows Bel, a girl who does not want to stress about the future, such as college applications, and has no interest in any after-school activities, for she has other things in mind instead—like laying low and not worrying about what is to come. A problem arises for her when she showcases her hidden talent, which is that she's good at engineering. So good, that she finds herself immediately dragged into the school's robotics club. Problem is, it's all mostly guys in there, and the girls don't seem to really like her. But, when she meets Mateo Luna, who is captain of the club, he makes it obvious that he believes in her talents. Bel and Mateo start disagreeing, but she also loves that he supports having women in STEM careers. What follows is an engaging story, filled with lessons about believing in yourself when you never thought you could and believing others who might see the shine you never thought was possible. VERDICT Perfect for middle school and high school libraries seeking a unique story.—Aurora Dominguez
Kirkus Reviews
2022-03-02
Opposites attract in this YA debut starring high school engineers.
Uncertain of her future post-graduation, Isabel Maier, who is Filipino and White and a transfer student at Essex Academy for Art, Science, and Technology, is reluctant to apply to colleges or think about choosing a major. Despite procrastinating on a catapult assignment, she reveals her gift for engineering design. Bel’s teacher encourages her to switch to AP physics and try out for the robotics team. Jewish and Mexican robotics (and soccer) team captain Mateo Luna is determined to get early admission to MIT and win this year’s national high school robotics competition. Impressed by Bel’s egg-drop design during tryouts, Teo selects her as their newest teammate, much to everyone’s surprise, including Bel’s. From the get-go, Bel is overlooked by her male cohorts, who depend heavily on Teo’s leadership; teammate Neelam—the only other girl on the team—immediately dislikes her; and even Teo seems to regret his decision as they clash over ideas. Farol Follmuth’s nuanced and honest characterizations remind readers that everyone has the capacity for change. As Teo and Bel’s relationship blooms from teammates to something more, Teo becomes fully aware of his privileged upbringing and the gender bias among his peers, and Bel learns to be a better team player while also standing up for herself. The message is clear: Women deserve to take up space in the STEM world too.
A delightful teen romance about building robots—and new futures. (Romance. 13-18)
